Mail-bag



(No Model.)

F. GRISCOM.

MAIL BAG.

NA PETERS. Phatihngnphcr. Washington, D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT'. OFFICE.

FREDERIC GRISCOM, OF DOLINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

MAIL-BAG.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,789, dated April 29,1884.

Application filed March 31, 1884. (No model.) u

ings, and to the iigures and letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

I My invention relates to fastenings for mailbags; and it consists in the novel construction, combination7 and arrangement of the several parts, as will be. hereinafter described and claimed. l

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a section of the bag opened. Fig. 2 is a section on about line m x, Fig. l, when the bag is closed. Fig. 3 is a section on link y y, Fig. 2.

The bag A is provided, near its upper end, with staple-openings a, formed through its opposite sides, and arranged so as to register with each other when the bag is closed, as

'most clearly indicated in Figs. 2 and 3. rIfhe 1ockstaple a is secured on the front of the bag, in line between the openings a and near one side of the bag, as shown. The coveringilap B is secured atv one edge to the back of the bag, and is provided near its opposite edge with a series of openings, b, arranged to coincide with the openings a when the bag is closed. It is also provided with an opening, b', fitted for the passage of the lock-staple a. The end of this flap which is secured tothe back of the bag is slotted at B for the passage of the fastening-staples. Strips C C are secured on the back of nap B, above and below slots B, and

vhave their adjacent edges projected beyond the upper and lower edge of said slotsand providing a guideway for the hooks, presently described. These strips C vare notched at intervals,coincidin g with slots B', as most clearly indicated in Figr 3. Strips D Dare secured on the back of strips C, and further apart 5o than said strips, so as to provide a keeper for the hook-strap. A coveringipiece, E, is secured on the strips D D and over the space between the same, as most clearly shown iu Fig. 3. These strips C D and piece E are preferably made of leather, and riveted or otherwise suitably secured to the back of the bag,

as thereby the construction of the entire'device may be formed by the leather-workers.

It is manifest, however, that where so desired the easing could be dispensed with, or a me- 6o tallic boX or keeper could, be substituted for pieces G D E. rlhe hook-strap F is secured between strips D, and has hooks f operating between the strips C, as clearly shown. One

' end of this strap is provided with stops f', and 65 has a slot, f2, arranged to be slipped over the lockstaple a. The other end of the strap is secured to the front flap, presently described. I also preferably provide the strap near this end with a tongue, G, whereby it may be with- 7o drawn for the purpose of unfastening the bag. The front flap, H, is secured at its lower edge on the front of the bag, and is provided near its upper edge on its inner face, with staples, h, adapted to be inserted through openings a.

It is also provided with an opening, h', for

the lock-staple a.

In operation, when the parts are in the pol f sition shown in Fig. 1, and it is desired to close the bag, the covering-flap is turned down 8o between the bag and the front flap. The lat# ter flap is then pressed in against the coveringap, they staple h passing through into the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3. N ow, by drawing the strap from the position shown in Fig. 1 to that shown in Fig. 2, the bag is securely fastened by the lhooks entering the staple, as shown. To lock the bag, the free end of the strap is brought around and over the lock- Y staple a', and a suitable lock is applied to said 9o staple, as will be readily understood.

While I prefer to use the hooks as specified, and to incase thehook-strap as before described, it is obvious that such constructions might be dispensed with, and the bag fastened by simply passing the strap through the ends of the staple which extend in rear of the bag.

It will be seen that by my construction the staples cross the mouth of the bag and serve as efficient means for clamping same closely Ioo v together. The covering-Hap extends over the mouth of the bag, and its free edge is covered by staple or front iap, so that it is in position to insert the hand or an instrument up under the covering-Hap and into the bag.

My fastening devices are simple, easily op erated, and do not add materially to the w eight of the bag.

Having described my invention, what l claim, and desire to seeure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. The improved mailbag herein described, consisting of the bag proper provided with stapleopenings, the covering-flap, the strapcasing, the front iap, and the fastening-strap provided withhooks, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the bag proper having staple-openings a, and provided with staple a', the covering-flap provided with staple-openings b and b, the front lap provided 2e with staples 7L and openings h', and the fastening-strap, all arranged and adapted for use substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the bag having staple-openings, the covering-flap, and the front 25 ap of the strap F, provided with hooks, and secured at one end to the front flap, and provided near said end with a handle-tongue, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature in 3o presence of two witnesses.

FREDERIC GRISCOM.

Witnesses:

XVILLIAM MCGARY, MIQHAEL HHRTHY. 

